Riding device

ABSTRACT

A riding device includes one or more cranks rotatably attached to a base, a rider support for supporting a rider having one or more arms movably engaged onto the cranks for allowing the arms of the rider support to be moved cyclically relative to the base by the cranks, and a driving device for driving the crank and the rider support to move cyclically relative to the base. The rider support may be moved relative to the base by the rider without the driving device to simulate horse riding exercises. The rider support includes a frame attached to the arms and engaged with the cranks for limiting the rider support to move relative to the cranks and for preventing the rider support from being disengaged from the base.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a riding device, and more particularly to a riding device including a rider support movable relative to a drive mechanism or device for allowing the rider support to be selectively moved relative to the drive mechanism or device by the users themselves.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Typical riding devices or rodeo training devices comprise a rider support for supporting the users thereon, and a drive mechanism having a crank arm coupled to the rider support to drive the rider support and to simulate the bucking and/or spinning motions of a rodeo animal attempting to unseat its rider.

For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,997,979 to Turner discloses one of the typical rodeo training devices also comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the rider support with a crank arm for training cowboys to ride rodeo animals such as bulls and wild horses.

However, the drive mechanism is solidly coupled to the rider support with the crank arm, such that the rider support may not be moved relative to the crank arm and the drive mechanism by the riders themselves when the drive mechanism is not energized or operated.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,402,626 to Beaty discloses a typical bucking machine also comprising a drive mechanism coupled to the rider support with one or more crank arms and/or links and/or spin wheels and/or spin shafts for driving the rider support to simulate the bucking and/or spinning motions of a rodeo animal attempting to unseat its rider.

However, similarly, the rider support is also solidly coupled to the drive mechanism with the crank arms or the links, such that the rider support may not be moved relative to the crank arm or the links of the drive mechanism by the riders themselves when the drive mechanism is not energized or operated.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,964,614 to Tsai discloses a typical riding device also comprising a seat plate coupled to a front spindle and a rear spindle of a drive mechanism with cranks and swing arms respectively, for driving the seat plate to simulate the bucking and/or spinning motions of a rodeo animal attempting to unseat its rider.

However, similarly, the seat plate is also solidly coupled to the drive mechanism with the cranks and the swing arms, such that the seat plate may not be moved relative to the cranks and the swing arms of the drive mechanism by the riders themselves when the drive mechanism is not energized or operated.

The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional riding devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary objective of the present invention is to provide a riding device including a rider support movable relative to a drive mechanism or device for allowing the rider support to be selectively moved relative to the drive mechanism or device by the users themselves.

The other objective of the present invention is to provide a riding device including a rider support movable relative to a drive mechanism or device for allowing the rider support to be moved in different moving strokes relative to the drive mechanism or device by the drive mechanism or device and by the moment of inertia.

In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided a riding device comprising a base, at least one crank rotatably attached to the base, a rider support for supporting a rider, including at least one arm movably engaged onto the crank for allowing the arm of the rider support to be moved cyclically relative to the base by the crank, and a driving device for driving the crank to rotate relative to the base, and to drive the rider support to move cyclically relative to the base, and the rider support is movable relative to the base by the rider to simulate horse riding exercises, without the driving device, or when the driving device has not been operated or energized.

The base includes a bearing device attached to the crank for engaging with the arm of the rider support. The rider support includes a frame attached to the arm and engaged with the bearing device for limiting the rider support to move relative to the crank and for preventing the rider support from being disengaged from the base.

The base includes a bearing device attached thereto, and the rider support includes at least one pole movably engaged onto the bearing device of the base for stably supporting the rider support on the base and for stably guiding the rider support to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base. The base includes a stick attached thereto, and a roller attached to the stick and aligned with the bearing device for stably retaining the pole between the bearing device and the roller and for preventing the pole of the rider support from being moved up and down relative to the base and from being disengaged from the base.

The base includes a protrusion extended therefrom for engaging with the rider support and for limiting the rider support to move relative to the base. The base includes at least one pad attached to the protrusion for engaging with the rider support and for limiting the rider support to move forwardly and rearwardly relative to the base. The rider support includes a stirrup attached thereto for engaging with feet of the rider and for stably supporting the rider on the rider support.

The driving device includes a motor coupled to the crank to rotate and to drive the crank and the rider support to move cyclically relative to the base. For example, a coupling device may further be provided and attached to the based and coupled between the motor and the crank for allowing the crank to be rotated or driven by the motor via the coupling device. The coupling device may be a pulley-and-belt coupling device, a sprocket-and-chain coupling device, a gearing coupling device, or the like for coupling the motor to the cranks and thus for allowing the cranks to be rotated or driven by the motor.

Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front and upper perspective view of a riding device in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear and bottom perspective view of the riding device;

FIG. 3 is a front side perspective view of the riding device;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial front side perspective view of the riding device;

FIG. 5 is a rear and upper perspective view of the riding device having a portion of the rider support removed, for showing an inner structure of the riding device;

FIG. 6 is a rear and upper perspective view of the riding device having the rider support removed, for showing the drive mechanism of the riding device;

FIG. 7 is a front and upper perspective view of the riding device having the rider support removed, for showing the drive mechanism of the riding device;

FIGS. 8, 9, 10 are partial side plan schematic views illustrating the operation of the riding device;

FIGS. 11, 12 are side plan views illustrating the operation of the riding device; and

FIG. 13 is a partial side plan schematic view similar to FIGS. 8-10, illustrating the other arrangement of the riding device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the drawings, and initially to FIGS. 1-5, and 11-12 a riding device 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises a base 10 including one or more posts 11 extended upwardly therefrom and/or a beam 12 disposed on top of the posts 11 for supporting a driving mechanism or means or device 20 thereon, and a rider support 40 movably supported on the drive mechanism or device 20 for allowing the rider support 40 to be selectively moved relative to the drive mechanism or device 20 by the users themselves, and for allowing the rider support 40 to be moved in different moving strokes relative to the drive mechanism or device 20 by the drive mechanism or device 20 and by the moment of inertia.

The base 10 further includes an axle 13 disposed thereon, such as attached to the rear portion 14 of the beam 12 or of the base 10, and one or more, such as two cranks 15 coupled to the axle 13 and rotated in concert with the axle 13 and each having a wheel or pulley or bearing device 16 attached thereto, such that the cranks 15 may be rotatably attached to the base 10. The base 10 further includes a rod 17 disposed thereon, such as attached to the front portion 18 of the beam 12 or of the base 10, and two wheels or pulleys or bearing devices 19 attached to the ends of the rod 17 respectively. As shown in FIGS. 3-10, the drive device 20 includes a motor 21 attached or secured to the base 10 or the beam 12, such as attached to the front portion of the beam 12 and having a spindle 22 for coupling to the axle 13 with a coupling mechanism or device 30, such as a pulley-and-belt coupling device 30 and for rotating or driving the axle 13 and thus the cranks 15 relative to the base 10 or the beam 12.

For example, as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the coupling mechanism or device 30 includes one or more, such as two shafts 31, 32 rotatably attached to the beam 12 and each having a wheel or pulley 33 or the like attached to the respective shaft 31, 32, the wheel or pulley 33 of the shaft 31 is coupled to the spindle 22 of the motor 21 with such as a belt 34, and the shaft 31 is then coupled to the wheel or pulley 33 of the other shaft 32 with another belt 35, a further wheel or pulley 36 is attached to the axle 13 and rotated in concert with the axle 13 and coupled to the other shaft 32 with a further belt 37, for allowing the axle 13 and thus the cranks 15 to be rotated or driven by the motor 20.

It is preferable that the base 10 further includes a protrusion 24 extended upwardly from the front portion 18 of the beam 12 or of the base 10, and one or more, such as two cushioning pads 25, 26 attached to the protrusion 24, such as attached to the front portion and the rear portion of the protrusion 24 respectively for cushioning purposes, and further includes a stick 27 attached to the protrusion 24 and preferably disposed parallel to the rod 17, and one or more, such as two bearing devices or rollers 28 attached the ends of the stick 27 respectively and aligned with the wheels or pulleys or bearing devices 19 respectively.

The rider support 40 includes one or more, such as two poles 41 provided on the rear portion or the front portion 42 thereof and slidably engaged onto the bearing devices 19 of the base 10, and stably engaged and retained between the bearing devices 19 and the rollers 28 of the base 10 for allowing the poles 41 of the rider support 40 to be stably guided to move longitudinally relative to the base 10, and for preventing the poles 41 of the rider support 40 from moving up and down and from being disengaged from the base 10. A bar 43 is secured to the front portion of the poles 41 for solidly coupling the poles 41 together, and for engaging with the front cushioning pad 25 (FIGS. 3, 4) in order to limit the rearward movement of the rider support 40 relative to the base 10.

It is preferable that the rider support 40 further includes a seat 44 attached or secured onto the poles 41 and having an anvil 45 provided on the seat 44 for engaging with the rear cushioning pad 26 (FIG. 4) in order to limit the forward movement of the rider support 40 relative to the base 10, such that the movement or the moving stroke of the rider support 40 relative to the base 10 may be predetermined and limited. The rider support 40 further includes one or more arms 46, such as two curved arms 46 provided on the front portion or the rear portion 47 thereof and having a suitable curvature for slidably or movably engaging onto the bearing devices 16 of the cranks 15 of the base 10 and for allowing the curved arms 46 of the rider support 40 to be moved forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly or cyclically relative to the base 10 by the cranks 15 (FIGS. 8-10).

In operation, as shown in FIGS. 8-10, the cranks 15 may be driven by the motor 20 to engage with the curved arms 46 of the rider support 40 and to actuate the curved arms 46 and thus the rider support 40 to move forwardly and rearwardly and upwardly and downwardly or cyclically relative to the base 10, the moving stroke of the rider support 40 relative to the base 10 may be controlled by the driven or rotational speed of the cranks 15 and/or by the moment of inertia of the rider support 40 and the rider seated or supported on the rider support 40. The weight the rider support 40 and the rider seated or supported on the rider support 40 may be applied onto the cranks 15, and the bearing devices 16 of the cranks 15 may have a tendency to be moved toward and retained on the top or center portion of the curved arms 46.

The rider support 40 may further include a link 48 secured to the rear portion of the arms 46 for solidly coupling the arms 46 together, and one or more, such as two frames 49 coupled to the arms 46 and/or the links 48 and also engaged with the bearing devices 16 of the cranks 15 for limiting the movement of the rider support 40 relative to the cranks 15 and for preventing the rider support 40 from being disengaged from the base 10. One or more stirrups 50 may be adjustably attached to the rider support 40 for engaging with the feet of the rider. The coupling mechanism or device 30 may also be replaced by such as sprocket-and-chain device, gearing device, or the like. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 13, the poles 41 of the rider support 40 may also be curved for stably engaging with the bearing devices 19.

It is to be noted that the typical riding devices or rodeo training devices failed to provide one or more arms 46 slidably or movably engaged on the bearing devices 16 of the cranks 15 for allowing the arms 46 and thus the rider support 40 to be moved cyclically relative to the base 10 by the cranks 15 and/or by the moment of inertia of the rider support 40 and the rider seated or supported on the rider support 40. It is further to be noted that the arms 46 slidably or movably engaged on the bearing devices 16 of the cranks 15 such that the rider support 40 may also be moved relative to the base 10 by the rider (FIGS. 11-12), without energizing the motor 20, to simulate the horse riding exercises.

Accordingly, the riding device in accordance with the present invention includes a rider support movable relative to a drive mechanism or device for allowing the rider support to be selectively moved relative to the drive mechanism or device by the users themselves, and for allowing the rider support to be moved in different moving strokes relative to the drive mechanism or device by the drive mechanism or device and by the moment of inertia.

Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed. 

1. A riding device comprising: a base, at least one crank rotatably attached to said base, a rider support for supporting a rider, including at least one arm movably engaged onto said at least one crank for allowing said at least one arm of said rider support to be moved cyclically relative to said base by said at least one crank, and means for driving said at least one crank to rotate relative to said base, and to drive said rider support to move cyclically relative to said base, and said rider support being movable relative to said base by the rider without said driving means to simulate horse riding exercises.
 2. The riding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a bearing device attached to said at least one crank for engaging with said at least one arm of said rider support.
 3. The riding device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said rider support includes a frame attached to said at least one arm and engaged with said bearing device for limiting said rider support to move relative to said at least one crank and for preventing said rider support from being disengaged from said base.
 3. The riding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a bearing device attached thereto, and said rider support includes at least one pole movably engaged onto said bearing device of said base for stably supporting said rider support on said base.
 4. The riding device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said base includes a stick attached thereto, and a roller attached to said stick and aligned with said bearing device for retaining said at least one pole between said bearing device and said roller and for preventing said at least one pole of said rider support from being disengaged from said base.
 5. The riding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said base includes a protrusion extended therefrom for engaging with said rider support and for limiting said rider support to move relative to said base.
 6. The riding device as claimed in claim 5, wherein said base includes at least one pad attached to said protrusion for engaging with said rider support.
 7. The riding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said driving means includes a motor coupled to said at least one crank to rotate and to drive said at least one crank and said rider support to move cyclically relative to said base.
 8. The riding device as claimed in claim 7, wherein said a coupling device is attached to said based and coupled between said motor and said at least one crank.
 9. The riding device as claimed in claim 8, wherein said coupling device is a pulley-and-belt coupling device.
 10. The riding device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rider support includes a stirrup attached thereto for engaging with feet of the rider. 